Winter On Mount Mitchell: Cross country skiing NC
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- Winter cross country skiing and snowshoeing on North Carolina's Mount Mitchell, the East's highest peak. Telemarking and winter mountaineering with author of the cult classic ski book Southern Snow: The New Guide to Winter Sports from Maryland to the Southern Appalachians. I shot this during a winter adventure on the Blue Ridge Parkway for WNC Magazine. randyjohnsonbooks.com
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About May 9, 1992, I visited Mitchell just after they received about three feet of snow - still have video of it. When I got there, blue skies and brilliant sunshine had moved in, but the snow still wasn't melting. Crazy, in the deep South, and so far into May! But in '85, Mitchell set its all-time morning low of minus-35 degrees - which is absolutely unreal!
Even being so far south the elevation is no joke and with readily available moisture its no wonder the mountain is so drastically different to other smaller peaks and especially the low lying large population centers
Draggy, from your comment, and most below, you folks should consider my new book from 2020, Southern Snow. The first edition was called a "cult classic" by ski film pioneer Warren Miller and the new book is all new: massive and award-winning chapter on the history of skiing in the South, a deep chapter on the climate of the mountains and why it snows where, plus much more, including all the downhill slopes, Nordic ski sites and winter mountaineering destinations, and photos showing it all. Check out the book, and my author page, on Amazon, or order at your local book shop. Think snow.
Oh yes, the climatology of snow in the South is fascinating, and I urge you to read my recent book Southern Snow: The New to Winter Sports from Maryland to the Southern Appalachians. First published in 1986, this "cult classic" has a massive chapter of insights into the climate and weather of the Southern Apps, and a guide to all the best sites for skiing (downhill and XC), winter mountaineering, etc.Wrote for snow fans like you.
Fascinating. Nordic in Dixie. Contrast and unpredictability like this make life interesting and beautiful.
Great comment. Indeed they do! Keep your eyes open and cross country is out there. Check out my video on Roan Mountain, a more accessible ski site than Mitchell.
This is really cool! To think that this is in the south, so close to Charlotte and Atlanta is absolutely fascinating. A fun winter weekend escape is feasible for city folks not accustomed to this winter magic. Incredible. Thanks for sharing.
I would try for a weekend if you need to, but please cultivate the flexibility to take a few vacation days if needed to get the snow while it's good. Less crowded during the week, and it's worth to ski a place like Roan Mountain when the snow is perfect! The book I reference above, Southern Snow: The New Guide to Winter Sports from Maryland to the Southern Appalachians, has the most complete ski guide to Mount Mitchell and Roan Mountain.
How did you get up to the summit lot ? The parkway is usually closed in this kind of weather, so curious how you accessed it!
I drove a Subaru Outback with Firestone Winterforce tires along the Blue Ridge Parkway from Route 80, to NC 128 and up into the state park. Yes, that entire route is usually closed under great snowy conditions, despite the fact that the state park personnel plow the entire drive to gain access so rangers can maintain the park. When it snows, that effort usually focuses on plowing the road. Rangers opened the gate for me because myself and a small group of friends had requested access to prepare an article about winter on the peak for WNC Magazine. Translation: I got special treatment as a member of the media. I for one wish that the road was opened more often so that one of the snowiest places in our entire region could be used for recreation. The Pacific Northwest has many places where the public can ski and recreate in deep snow, but the National Park Service plows open Mount Rainier's road to Paradise recreation area-and that site gets 50+ feet of snow to Mount Mitchell's 100+ inches. It's a complicated situation but there are chain and other requirements to use that area, and snow folks in the South have just as snow-worthy cars as they do out there. I've been wishing that would change for decades. Not yet!
would love to read the article you mentioned at the end of the video if there is a link for it?
My favorite mountain, entertainingly presented. Thank you!
Thanks very much for the complement. Glad you enjoyed this. I can't believe I was lucky enough to make plans and grab the moment when the snow was so great. It was an awesome experience.
You're the man, Randy. Does Mitchell get snow like this every year? I just moved up to North Carolina and am itching to get over there all fall and winter.
Hey man, you have some great content on your channel! I have a copy of the WNC magazine and love the article and the cover photo. Mitchell is definitely a NC treasure and one of my favorite places in creation. I love to backpack on the Black Mountains Crest Trail.
I live in South Carolina, I really want to go here and see snow :(
oh trust me its crazy up there like a blizzard half the time
and constant snowfall
About how deep was the snow pack? Thinking of doing the same this February or March. Great video, great place to hike (or ski).
Hi Bryan. Not sure I replied I got distracted. I'd say there was 3 to 4 ambient feet, but that varied due to drifting and wind. That was a snowy winter but big dumps happen up there a lot. Good luck. Hear we're heading for a great winter so don't wait to see how much better it gets, strike while the snow is cold.
As I say, 100+ inches-my guess, really skiable 6 weeks on average. But it's skiable every winter, as is Roan, you just have to watch. Try Roan Mountain, easier to reach-a video about that is on my channel, too. And to keep track of the snow-Watch the Nordic/natural snow report on the Explore Boone Area website-click "Places to Play">Cross Country Skiing>Nordic Ski Report
I need to amend this and the answer above-a reliable snow report is no longer available on Explore Boone Area, which is now exploreboone.com. Try using the Facebook page for "High Country Nordic Association." Request to join and many people post reports on Roan and other NC High Country ski sites.
Hey this is great! I'm curious - the shots when you are on tele - where did you take off from? Just the top? Or off the trail going towards big tom? thanks!
Thanks for asking. I used my 8th Subaru(!), an Outback. I have plowed on when Jeeps ahead of me have done donuts off the road and into ditches. Want more Subaru motoring-in DEEP snow-check out my Roan Mountain cross country ski video. I credit the car in this one-but can't link to it.
Sorry! Not sure I answered this. Mitchell gets a bonafide 100+ inches a year and it can be like the video every winter with the right big dump to set it up. Problem is-the Parkway access is often closed by the state park in snowy conditions, so sadly, when it's best, the state is plowing the road to let employees up but not willing to risk access for the public.
Do you think the state park has enough funds to do snow at tours or take people up there to Nordic ski when it dumps like this video? I know Mt. Washington does snowcat tours up to tree line there, but maybe different variables enable New Hampshire to use them.
I can't agree with this. My data say 104 inches annually or so, and that requires a decent accu to get things right and then consistency, which we don't have a lot of in the South, or in West Virginia for that matter-or in New Hampshire either-the East sees rain and warm-ups all winter (unlike Colorado). But it's skiable every winter, as is Roan, you just have to watch. Watch the Nordic/natural snow report on the Explore Boone Area website-click "Place to Play">Cross Country Skiing>Nordic Report
How often does Mitchell get skiable snow?
What type of car did you used to get up there?
I am sorry folks I guess I have just been slack monitoring questions about this video. I am on my, believe it or not, eighth Subaru, so that's how I get there. Subaru Outback. Check out the Roan Mountain video on my channel to see it in action again!